fOR IN-DEPTH INDIVIDUAL STUDY

book of the month

Here's what I'm reading right now and a nice outline for you!

why
did god make male and female?

Christianity sometimes has the burden of a false image
regarding the treatment of women. Some feel that the Bible
prescribes men to 'rule' over, or to dominate women. Nothing
could be further from the truth! In fact, Christianity is the
ONLY 'religion' that mandates equality and special worth for BOTH
sexes! In Christ, all people are EQUAL in the eyes of God:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for
you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness"...So God
created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male
and female He created them." Genesis 1:26a, 27

God created a man first, and then a woman. And the woman was
made as a 'part' of the man, to show that they are the same.
The timing is given too much significance sometimes!

The Lord God said "It is not good for the man to be alone. I
will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

"The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my
flesh; she shall be called 'woman', for she was taken out of
man." Genesis 2:23

So what is the point? Why are there two sexes, and why is the
man seen by some as the 'dominator'?

God created two sexes to enable mankind to enjoy the blessings of
relationship. A man and a woman are to be bonded together in
a community that is built upon trust, intimacy, and mutual
love. A similar unity exists within the Trinity.

The 'dis-unity' occurred because of the fall. The bond of
unity was broken, and now the two are strangers, although side by side
(another allusion of the relationship of mankind to God.) Now
separate positions of authority exist. Eve now would become
dependent upon the man, from whom she was created. This is by
no means an indication of importance, nor is it a license to abuse a
position, either by the head of the household or by the
helper. In a biblically based marriage both the man and the
woman have equality in importance but difference in roles.

In marriage, a unique 'being' is created. A different state
of affairs exists when the two come together, which did not exist when
they were separate. The Bible describes this as 'one flesh':

...a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
and they will become one flesh. Genesis 2:24b

What does this 'one flesh' mean? It goes beyond a sexual
union. It is a spiritual and emotional unity that is very
strong, yet fragile. A mature and loving relationship between
a man and a woman is a combination of confidence and vulnerability,
trust and dependence. Violation of the union, whether sexual,
emotional or spiritual, destroys the union. Many mistakenly
assume that the only destruction of the marriage comes from sexual
infidelity - but a healthy marriage cannot exist without the other two
aspects as well! From this fact comes a hint at how the union
survives - not by domination or degradation, but by building up and
support from BOTH members, working to sustain the marriage entity as
they do their own bodies!

Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord."

Ephesians 5:22

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the Church...Husbands
ought to love their wives as their own bodies."
Ephesians 5:25a, 28b

God has created this union to represent to mankind the union between
Christ and His Church. The mystery of the love, dependence
and salvation between Christ and the Church is also seen in the
marriage.

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united
to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a
profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the
Church. " Ephesians 5:31-32

"He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever
hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just and Christ does
the church - for we are members of His body." Ephesians
5:28b-30

The marriage is a most unique 'being'. As God has done with
so many earthly establishments, it is a representation of God, in that
it represents the union between Christ and the Church. This
precludes any claims of domination or acts of abuse, as well as any
attempts at rebellion or resentment. When the two honor and
trust each other completely and truly become one, we can have a glimpse
of the final union between Christ and His Church:

...Christ loved the Church and gave Himself up for her to make her
holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to
present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or
any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Ephesians 5:25b-27

"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took
their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom...the virgins who were
ready went in with Him to the wedding banquet, and the door was
shut." Matthew 25:1, 10b

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the
wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself
ready." Revelation 19:7

"I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem [the Church], coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her
husband." Revelation 21:2